Padres reunite with former top prospect on minor-league contract

The San Diego Padres haven't spent a dime in the free agent market this offseason. Oddly, the normally free-spending, wheeling-and-dealing nature of Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller has been reined in so far ahead of the 2025 season.

But Preller finally came out of his hibernation (sort of) this week after it was revealed that Luis Patiño had agreed to a minor-league deal with the Padres. Unfortunately, Padres fans shouldn't look for Patiño to contribute until midseason at the earliest, as the right-hander is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Padres reunite with former top prospect Luis Patiño on minor-league contract

The Friar faithful will remember that Patiño was part of the Padres roster heading into last season. Patiño underwent surgery just after the 2024 season got underway and was non-tendered earlier this offseason in order to clear a spot on the Padres' 40-man roster.

There was a time during his professional career when Patiño was among the most talked about prospects in baseball. Scouts marveled at his plus fastball, and many assumed he'd be a frontline starter in the major leagues. Unfortunately, that potential hasn't yet been realized. Patiño owns a career 5.02 ERA in 45 appearances across four big league seasons with three different organizations.

After debuting for the Padres during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Patiño was part of the trade that brought Blake Snell to San Diego the following offseason. Patiño never found success with the Tampa Bay Rays and was eventually dealt to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations. The right-hander was claimed by San Diego prior to last season, but the elbow injury ended his season before it even began.

Adding Patiño back on a minor-league pact offers San Diego little more than some depth in the minor leagues. But with how inactive the Friars have been this offseason, San Diego may well need his arm in the big leagues at some point next season.

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